She determined that the overall well-being of the University of Wisconsin, including increased alumni giving, was better served with a highly competitive football program. She aggressively sought out a partnership with the state leadership and brought in Badger great Pat Richter as athletic director; he hired Barry Alvarez as coach. The result was that they turned Camp Randall Stadium from a social event to high-powered football. University of Miami President and former Clinton Cabinet member Donna Shalala served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Iran in the 1960's.
Former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson suggests that we all look at what Donna Shalala did as president of the University of Wisconsin and take a page out of her book.
Arne Carlson: Let's all pull together for on-campus stadium
Arne Carlson
August 13, 2005 CARLSON0813
Travel South Dakota
The Star Tribune's Aug. 7 sports article ("Where does Mason stand?") relative to an overly thorough review of Coach Glen Mason's contract problems with the University of Minnesota was clearly out of line and wholly unnecessary. In a few weeks, the Gophers open what could very well be a very exciting season. I would think that a newspaper that wants Minnesota's football team to compete effectively with the Ohio States, Michigans, Purdues, etc., would perhaps do a little more to promote fan interest.
For the better part of five decades, the solution to the football problem has been simply to blame the coach and then to fire him. It has gotten us absolutely nowhere. In education, we understand that it takes a whole village to educate a child. The same is true in terms of sports excellence. All of us have to play a role if we want to be comparable to the best and stop simply pointing fingers at the university's athletic director or football coach. Let me suggest the following:
The university has made it abundantly clear that it needs an on-campus football stadium. Two legislative sessions have gone by without any action in spite of the fact that everyone agrees it is a slam-dunk proposition. I would suggest that we all look at what Donna Shalala did as president of the University of Wisconsin and take a page out of her book.
She determined that the overall well-being of the University of Wisconsin, including increased alumni giving, was better served with a highly competitive football program. She aggressively sought out a partnership with the state leadership and brought in Badger great Pat Richter as athletic director; he hired Barry Alvarez as coach. The result was that they turned Camp Randall Stadium from a social event to high-powered football.
In Minnesota, it is essential that President Bob Bruininks adopt the same aggressive attitude and form a partnership with Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who could declare a special one-day legislative session to get the bill passed prior to Sept. 1. The university's stadium proposal should not be put in the professional mix that gets the Legislature and governor in endless controversies and further involves the issue of the "no tax increase" pledge.
If the governor wants the Twins and/or Vikings stadiums dealt with, then schedule these deliberations immediately after the university proposal has passed. The reality is that the University of Minnesota is unique, and further waiting simply adds millions of dollars to the ultimate costs. Good leadership steps to the plate and leads.
It is time for the media to recognize that Gophers sports also play a role in determining Minnesota's quality of life. Why is it that we know more about the hangnail of a third-string tackle on the Vikings than we do about the Gopher lineup and its two All Americans? How about promoting the Gophers, let us say, just in a manner that would be half of what they do for the Twins and Vikings? This would really increase interest and fill seats.
Every game should have packed stands. We need more ticketholders and more fans regularly supporting "U" athletics. When there are empty seats, how about the university giving those tickets to social agencies and schools so they can disburse them to younger students and low-income children who'd love to come to a college game free? Certainly a mechanism for that type of generosity should be part of the mission of big-time sports. It also creates a continuous Gophers following.
The bottom line here is simple: If we all want excellence, let us all pitch in and try to make it happen. The truth is, we have a superb coach in Glen Mason and we can become a supporting cast in building Gophers football so that it is consistently competitive with the Wisconsins, Iowas, Purdues, etc. Communities working together toward positive goals win, regardless of whether it is in the advancement of medical science, teaching students, or creating effective transportation systems. The key is working together.
Arne Carlson is a former governor of Minnesota
